Historical Timeline

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1951-1975

1951

Tom Vandergriff becomes mayor.

The city's famous mineral water well on Main and Center is capped permanently under the intersection's pavement due to increased traffic.

1952

Sister city relationship established with Bad Königshofen, Germany.
Grace Lutheran church opens.
Texas & Pacific Railroad Depot is demolished.
James Daniel Cooper's historical house is donated to the city and relocated to Meadowbrook Park, serving as a library.

1953

The city takes over the public library from Tarrant County.

1954

General Motors Corporation plant opens.

Southeast corner of the sprawling new $33,000,000 General Motors Corporation plant at Arlington.
Berry Elementary School opens.

1955

J.C. Penney and Sears chain stores in business.

1956

American Can Company plant opens.

Finishing construction on the American Can Company Arlington plant
Arlington Baptist College opens on the property of the old speakeasy Top O' Hill Terrace.
Arlington High School moves to its second location on Park Row and Cooper.
Old Arlington High School building becomes Ousley Jr. High
Thornton Elementary School opens.

1957

Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike opens.

Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike exit to the Conoco service plaza which was located at present-day Ballpark Way

1958

Arlington Downs is completely destroyed by commercial developers.

Horse watering trough - today's only remaining on-site vestige of Arlington Downs
Vandergriff family donates land that becomes Arlington Memorial Hospital.

1959

The first candidates for a four-year bachelor's degree enroll at Arlington State College.

1960

Population: 44,775.

Downtown Arlington - 1960

1961

Six Arlington High School girls riding in a car plunge off the embankment of a bridge on the old Arlington-Bedford Road, tragically killing three (the bridge had been intentionally burned down by high school boys on a previous night).
City Hall opens.
Six Flags Over Texas opens.

Aerial view of Six Flags Over Texas

1962

Public Library opens.
Cooper House is leased to the Arlington Woman's Club who will refurbish and maintain the home.

1963

Silver Star Carousel debuts at Six Flags Over Texas, originally crafted in 1920s Philadelphia.

Carousel and carpenters with oil rig in background, Six Flags Over Texas
Sam Houston High School opens.

1964

Arlington Municipal Airport opens.

Arlington Municipal Airport
Speelunker Cave opens as Six Flags Over Texas's first dark ride.

Speelunker Cave - Six Flags Over Texas
Meadowbrook Recreation Center is built on the northern edge of Meadowbrook Park.

1965

Turnpike Stadium opens.

Newly built Turnpike Stadium
Dottie Lynn and Church Women United throw the first Annual 4 July parade.
Vandergriff Chapel is built.
Cooper House is designated as a Texas Historical Landmark.

1966

Park Plaza Cinema opens.
Runaway Mine Train coaster is built at Six Flags Over Texas.

Postcard description: At top is the Runaway Mine Train which annually carries more than 2½ million riders. At center an authentic 1898 steam engine carries passengers over a narrow gauge track which encircles the huge theme park. And, in the foreground is the SIX FLAGS Mini Mine Train, designed for the younger set.
Thannisch-Vandergriff Building closes as a car dealership after 38 years.

1967

Arlington State College becomes the University of Texas at Arlington.

Cindi Coulson, Miss UTA, and Robert Hale, Johnny Reb, ca. 1967-1968

1968

AISD sells the old Arlington High School/Ousley Jr. High building to UTA, and the School of Social Work opens.

1970

Forum 303 Mall and Six Flags Mall open.
Arlington Genealogical Society formed.
Lamar High School opens.
Population: 90,643.

Abram and Center streets, air view

1972

Texas Rangers baseball team based in city.
Seven Seas Marine Life Park opens.

Group including Arlington Mayor Tom Vandergriff christens Seven Seas pirate ship The Bona Venture

1973

The Central Library moves to its first Abram Street location.
Theatre Arlington opens.
Bowie High School opens.

1974

Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport opens.

Postcard depiction of Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport
Cheryl Calloway is found stabbed to death in the parking lot of Forum 303 Mall, one of Arlington's more infamous cold cases.